Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has said £18 million summer signing Jaden Philogene could leave on loan because the winger’s “adaptation is going slower than we wanted”.
Villans academy product Philogene returned to the club on a five-year contract in July after impressing during a season at Hull City, who signed him for an undisclosed fee in September 2023.
The 22-year-old has not started a Premier League game for almost three months and has not featured in Villa’s last four matches.
🗣️ Unai: “We are starting the new year focused on our match against Leicester, starting at home at Villa Park. We had a very good year, but trying to separate last year, last season and this season.” pic.twitter.com/1zHjrQ9iSz
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 3, 2025
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Philogene: Villa ‘believe in potential’
“He didn’t show his potential in the first six months of being with us, for different circumstances,” Emery said, via Birmingham Live.
“He played some important matches [by starting] against Bayern Munich [in the Champions League on October 2] and Manchester United [in the league four days later].
“At that moment, he [had the] opportunity to show his progress. He didn’t do it clearly and [he has been] playing less, but I believe in his potential.”
The Boss on 2025: “It’s a challenge and our challenge is to also try to improve, increase our level, demands and standards in everything.” pic.twitter.com/5jwUAgT1kU
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 3, 2025
Philogene transfer: Loan ‘one option’
Villa exercised a deal with Hull to have the option to match any bids for Philogene, equalling an offer from Ipswich Town and leaving the player to decide which option he would pursue.
They received around £5m back after he joined them as part of a 30% sell-on clause, and Ipswich are likely to be one of the clubs tracking Philogene’s availability.
“[A loan] is one option for him and the club because there are lots of clubs interested in him,” said Emery. “They believe in his potential.
“We are not close [to agreeing a loan] and as a coach I am not really wanting to let him leave, but we are speaking about the different options.
“My conversation was always to be patient, take time to improve things. The adaptation is going slower than we wanted, but still, in my mind, the objective is [for him] to improve and help us here. Now it is January, it could be an option for him and the squad to let him leave.”
Ipswich Town interested in Aston Villa forward Jaden Philogene & keeping eye on his situation. Ipswich agreed deal with Hull City to sign him in the summer only for Villa to trigger a matching clause. Philogene has started 4 games in all competitions this season. #ITFC #AVFC
— Dharmesh Sheth (@skysports_sheth) January 2, 2025
Villa vs Leicester
Philogene and centre-back Diego Carlos will miss the visit of Leicester City in the Premier League on Saturday (3pm GMT) with minor injuries.
Defender Pau Torres is expected to be out for around two months after breaking a metatarsal in his foot, while midfielder Morgan Rogers and forward Jhon Duran are suspended until the trip to Everton on January 15 (7.30pm).
Ninth-placed Villa are unbeaten in nine home league games, although their three-match winning run at Villa Park ended with a 2-2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday.
